Wild Almond

Scientific Name: Prunus lycioides (Spach) C.K.Schneid. Synonyms: Amygdalus lycioides Spach. English Name: Mountain Almond Other Names In English (UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand): Wild Almond Family: Rosaceae

GENERAL DATA

Plant parts: Flower, kernel, kernel oil and resin
Cultivation mode: Wild collection
In manufacturing: Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics
In food: Different Food, Confectionary and Nuts

🌰 Industries That Use Wild Almond (Prunus lycioides Spach)

Wild Almond, also known as Amygdalus lycioides, is a resilient, thorny shrub bearing small, hard-shelled nuts native to Iran, Afghanistan, and neighboring regions. Unlike domesticated almonds (Prunus dulcis), this species is valued more for its medicinal, ecological, and cosmetic applications than for culinary use.

1. Pharmaceutical & Traditional Medicine Industry

The kernels of Prunus lycioides have been used in Persian traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory, emollient, and digestive-supporting properties.

Applications:

• Ground kernel used in herbal pastes or oils

• Applied for joint pain, inflammation, or nerve discomfort

• Emollient agent in skin-nourishing ointments and balms

✅ Contains fixed oils, tannins, and trace cyanogenic glycosides (requires cautious handling)

2. Cosmetic & Personal Care Industry

Wild almond oil extracted from the kernels is valued in cosmeceuticals for its moisturizing and antioxidant effects.

Applications:

• Emollient oils for dry or sensitive skin

• Natural base in soaps, creams, and body oils

• Traditional hair-conditioning oils in rural communities

✅ Compared to sweet almond oil, this oil is richer in polyphenols and often used in artisan skincare

3. Environmental & Ecological Applications

As a native shrub, Prunus lycioides is essential in rangeland management, soil stabilization, and biodiversity conservation in Iran’s mountainous drylands.

Applications:

• Used in ecological restoration and anti-erosion planting

• Pollinator-friendly shrub attracting bees and insects

• Drought-tolerant species ideal for reforestation in arid zones

✅ Valuable for carbon sequestration and native plant landscaping

4. Animal Feed Industry (Traditional Use)

In some traditional settings, the leaves, pods, and shells of Prunus lycioides are used as forage material or supplementary feed for goats and sheep.

Applications:

• Mixed into livestock feed in arid rural regions

• Nutrient-rich shell residues used as filler or roughage

✅ Not a commercial feed product but useful in subsistence farming systems

5. Ethnobotanical & Artisan Use

Rural and nomadic communities have historically used wild almonds in local medicine, ritual offerings, and artisanal crafts.

Applications:

• Burned shells as fragrant coals or insect repellents

• Hand-pressed oils used in healing rituals

• Integrated into village cosmetics or scrubs

✅ Considered a wild ancestral species of the cultivated almond

✅ Summary of Key Applications

🌿 Key Features of Prunus lycioides:

• Native Range: Iran (Zagros Mountains, Lorestan, Khorasan), Afghanistan

• Plant Type: Thorny deciduous shrub, highly drought-resistant

• Nut Type: Small hard-shelled wild almond with bitter kernel

• Oil Content: ~35–50% in the kernel, rich in unsaturated fatty acids

• Harvest Season: Late summer to early autumn (August–September)

🌰 Comparison Table: Wild Almond (Prunus lycioides) vs Sweet Almond (Prunus dulcis)

✅ Key Takeaways:

• 🟤 Wild Almond (Prunus lycioides):
  → Best for ecological conservation, ethnobotanical and small-scale medicinal applications
  → Requires detoxification due to bitter, cyanogenic nature
  → Rare and not suitable for culinary use in raw form

• 🤍 Sweet Almond (Prunus dulcis):
  → Widely used in global food, cosmetic, and nutraceutical industries
  → Safe, sweet, and nutrient-rich; rich in Vitamin E and oleic acid
  → A true commercial commodity crop

PRODUCT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES Persian Name: بادام کوهی، الوک/ Badam-e-Koohi, Alook German Name (Deutschland, Austria, Switzerland): – French Name (France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec): –

Wild Almond Health Benefits Its poultice is useful for old wounds and purulent pimples. Poultice of its flowers improves eye and skin diseases. Its oil helps to treat gout, sprained joints, chronic joint pains, and chest diseases. Anointing a solution of Mountain Almond oil, castor oil, sulfur, camphor, and lime juice is useful for pimples and itching. Applying a solution of Mountain Almond oil and lime water (Ca(OH)₂) heals the burns.   Wild Almond Side Effects Excessive use of these kernels cause vomiting, diarrhea and stomach irritation.